SEARCH


IIHF makes final decision regarding China's participation at 2022 Winter Olympics

PUBLICATION
Cooper Godin
December 7, 2021  (11:35)
SHARE THIS STORY

Ahead of the 2021/22 international calendar, the IIHF council met in Switzerland to discuss a number of topics including the China's participation at the upcoming Winter Olympics.

The IIHF announced that they have given the Chinese Men's National Team the green light to participate at the 2022 Winter Olympics in February.

Many hockey experts were and still are worried that China's participation could cause global embarrassment because their program hasn't grown much since Beijing was announced as the host city for the 2022 Winter Olympics back in July 2015.

"The IIHF Council also discussed the status of the Chinese men's ice hockey team ahead of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. The Council confirmed that it will uphold the decision by the 2018 IIHF Congress to grant the Chinese men's national team a host qualification position in the 2022 Olympic Games," the IIHF's statement said.

China's National Men's Team is currently ranked 32nd in the world and has only played two games since 2019. The IIHF set up a pair of games for the Kunlun Red Star, China's lone team in the KHL, using them as a test team for the Olympics. Kunlun Red Star consists of many Chinese nationals along with former NHLers Brandon Yip, Spencer Foo and Ryan Sproul. Kunlun Red Star lost both of their games against Amur Khabarovsk (5-4 OT loss), and Avangard Omsk (4-1 loss).

China will be in Group A of the Men's Olympic Hockey Tournament and will take on the United States (February 10th), Germany (February 12th), and Canada (February 13th).

TRENDING NOW
2025-2026
NHL STANDINGS
GPWLOLPTS
Sabres8250239109
Lightning8250266106
Canadiens82482410106
Bruins82452710100
Senators8244271199
Red Wings8241311092
Panthers824038484
Maple Leafs8232361478
GPWLOLPTS
Hurricanes8253227113
Penguins8241251698
Flyers8243271298
Capitals824330995
Blue Jackets8240301292
Islanders824334591
Devils824237387
Rangers823439977
GPWLOLPTS
Avalanche82551611121
Stars82502012112
Wild82462412104
Mammoth824333692
Blues8237331286
Predators8238341086
Jets8235351282
Blackhawks8229391472
GPWLOLPTS
Golden Knights8239261795
Oilers8241301193
Ducks824333692
Kings8235272090
Sharks823935886
Kraken8234371179
Flames823439977
Canucks822549858
COMPLETE STANDINGS